This article is part of the series: Altruistic Byte: Real-World Insights for Tech-Driven Change

In international development, non-profit organizations often claim inclusivity is a core value. But why does it matter?

It is because we consistently work with people from different backgrounds through communication, coordination, and collaboration ("3C"). We deal with some of the most complex problems our society embodies, and they require the 3C among those living in different contexts.

Importantly, we learn a lot from our experience. It's the great adaptability and flexibility of human beings, and that's why I encourage my mentees to gain as much hands-on experience as possible without overanalyzing career projections. That is, your specialty comes only from your experience; you can only grow through the things you faced with your five senses.

However, it also implies that our perspective is always bound by our own experience, and it sometimes shows up as biases.

Think of me starting a new business, an Italian restaurant, because I like pizza and someone told me it's profitable. Opening a restaurant won't be a big challenge, as it's a matter of financing and paperwork. But there are bigger problems: I have no experience visiting Italy, having Italian friends, tasting authentic Italian pizza, making pizza myself, or working in the service and hospitality industry. No stories, no soul. If I went ahead anyway, I would rely on whatever memories and stereotypes I've had of Italian cuisine, as well as rock-solid recipes someone wrote, and the restaurant wouldn't attract as many customers as I wished — unless I consult with domain experts who are more knowledgeable and experienced in this particular topic.

Same in the development work. Imagine you are assigned to a project in a country you've never known, like the moment I landed in a country I'd never heard of for 30 years in my life. Without learning from and working with locals, anything I do would be no more than guesswork, and it could be a waste of time and money, if not causing negative impacts to the communities.

That's where inclusivity comes in. When I, or my business, is inclusive, we can learn from each other to complement the experience gaps and deliver more tailored, context-aware solutions that reflect locals' unique constraints and possibilities. The more relevant the deliverable is, the longer it lasts, and the more sustainable our work can be.

So, inclusivity is about knowing what you don't know. And working with others brings diversity to projects, maximizing the chance of success in a true sense.

At one point in my career, I was tasked to work on a global IoT project, work I had almost zero prior knowledge of. Hence, I first spent months meeting with potential clients worldwide and learning from their lived experience to solidify my foundation. On the contrary, many development workers are busy dealing with internal politics and bureaucracies, being incentivized to take an easy, one-size-fits-all route based on our limited experience and naive assumptions. This can be the source of coping-and-pasting initiatives.

That is why we need inclusivity, and we must take it seriously and turn the idea into action rather than just showcasing these beautiful words for visibility's sake.

  This article is part of the series: Altruistic Byte: Real-World Insights for Tech-Driven Change

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Last updated: October 2, 2026

  Author: Takuya Kitazawa

I am a product builder, mentor, and advocate for sustainable technology development with a decade of experience in AI/ML products, data systems, and digital transformation. Based in Canada and originally from Japan, I have lived and worked globally, including part-time residence in Malawi, Africa. Visit my portfolio to learn more about my work, or reach out to me at [email protected].

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